Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/8/20 @ WSH

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/8/20 @ WSH
- bmeltzer

Caps 6
Flyers 0

Putting Giroux back with Couturier is the best thing they can do to try and get Giroux going.

I’m not feeling optimistic for this next stretch. Away games vs Caps, Isles, and the two in Florida where they always struggle seem like losses coming up.

At least they’ve moved G to wing and more importantly to the L circle spot on the PP.

Should be interesting to see how Frost does on his 2nd try.

What prompted Ghost hurling his stick? Was it when he found out he was #7?D or something else?

Will be interesting to see these PP tweaks against the Caps #2 ranked PK. The Caps take a lot of penalties so the flyers will get their chances. Washington recently when 6-6 on the PK against Pittsburgh who came in to that game blazing hot on the PP.

I am not sure if Samsonov is back from his day to day injury. If holtby is in net, you def have a chance cause he has been on the struggle bus this season.

I’m not feeling optimistic for this next stretch. Away games vs Caps, Isles, and the two in Florida where they always struggle seem like losses coming up.

At least they’ve moved G to wing and more importantly to the L circle spot on the PP.

Should be interesting to see how Frost does on his 2nd try.

What prompted Ghost hurling his stick? Was it when he found out he was #7?D or something else?
- Marc D

Likely frustration with his game. I feel like his struggles are all mental. If he can get his shots back on net again there is no reason why he cant be a 60 point dman again but for whatever reason he is hesitating and missing the net

Will be interesting to see these PP tweaks against the Caps #2 ranked PK. The Caps take a lot of penalties so the flyers will get their chances. Washington recently when 6-6 on the PK against Pittsburgh who came in to that game blazing hot on the PP.

I am not sure if Samsonov is back from his day to day injury. If holtby is in net, you def have a chance cause he has been on the struggle bus this season.
- BrenosBagels

Samsonov is back and I heard he is projected to start. I own him in Fantasy hockey so at least if the Flyers suck Im likely to be happy on that side

On the last board it was mentioned that if you dont critique the team you are offering nothing (not my words but a posters)

Technically none of us are offering anything since nothing we say will ever be read by the players or the coaches. Critiquing them on this board will not make them play better, and saying they are okay after a bad loss will not bring them any relief.

Some here just choose to try to focus on the good things (such as the fact that the team is on a pace for improving their standings points by 17 over last year) rather than the negatives. This is the first year in a while that the flyers have been fun to watch (including recent playoff years). I wont apologize for being optimistic on this board or rooting for my team to succeed even if they have a poor game.

SSB, even so I used your words at the beginning of the post, this is less directed to you but to others who when complaining don't even offer up what they think could be fixed (even so we know our offerings dont matter at all)

I’m not feeling optimistic for this next stretch. Away games vs Caps, Isles, and the two in Florida where they always struggle seem like losses coming up.

At least they’ve moved G to wing and more importantly to the L circle spot on the PP.

Should be interesting to see how Frost does on his 2nd try.

What prompted Ghost hurling his stick? Was it when he found out he was #7?D or something else?
- Marc D

He knew before he was on the ice that he was the 7th D. Was talked to beforehand. Even if he wasn't, taking his reps with Nolan Patrick as his stand-in "D partner" would have clued him in.

Not entirely sure what prompted the stick toss. Most likely just lots of pent-up frustration. He kinda flubbed on a shot but that happens all the time in practice and doesn't normally trigger that strong of a response. Helicoptering a stick from the ice over the glass like a baseball bat swing where you lose the grip on the bat and it flies over the dugout is a trifle stronger reaction than your basic stick slam or torrent of f-bombs.

The first concern was that maybe he'd tweaked his knee again. AV, who was not on the ice when the stick was thrown (and unaware of it), said that there was no reinjury as far as he knew. And Ghost took the trip with the team to DC.

So, it was 99% just a snap out of frustration. Stormed off to cool down (he wasn't in the locker room, nor his skates at his stall), and then felt better.

Samsonov is back and I heard he is projected to start. I own him in Fantasy hockey so at least if the Flyers suck Im likely to be happy on that side
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Holtby is starting.

I’ve always have been in favor of Giroux playing the middle because I always felt like it made us a deeper team. In the past, going back to last season, this idea has worked. However, Giroux has never looked more ineffective I’ve ever seen in his entire career. Yes, it’s time to get him on the wing and the call up of Morgan Frost couldn’t have come at a better time.

I don’t have a real problem with the lines outside of, I think JvR is going to back to struggling even more than he has. I saw some jump in the beginning when he got an opportunity with Giroux and Konecny but something about that All-Star break just murdered that jump he had.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JvR-Frost-Voracek
Laughton-Hayes-Pitlick
Raffl-Bunnaman-NAK

This is how I would go. I think that third line has been a bright spot for this team. Tonight becomes a must win and the team needs to be more sharp.

E f f yeah patty. 3 days in a row. Next season hopefully he’s here all season.

On the last board it was mentioned that if you dont critique the team you are offering nothing (not my words but a posters)

Technically none of us are offering anything since nothing we say will ever be read by the players or the coaches. Critiquing them on this board will not make them play better, and saying they are okay after a bad loss will not bring them any relief.

Some here just choose to try to focus on the good things (such as the fact that the team is on a pace for improving their standings points by 17 over last year) rather than the negatives. This is the first year in a while that the flyers have been fun to watch (including recent playoff years). I wont apologize for being optimistic on this board or rooting for my team to succeed even if they have a poor game.

SSB, even so I used your words at the beginning of the post, this is less directed to you but to others who when complaining don't even offer up what they think could be fixed (even so we know our offerings dont matter at all)
- bulet13

Here we go, not even noon yet.

So let me get this right and stay with me because clearly your feelings were hurt and you must have lost sleep.

Is it a problem when Chris Therrien says between periods that this team needs to get it gear when they’re falling flat in a playoff race? I mean, he can’t harp on anything because he only had 15 minutes between periods to say what he needs to say.

Is it a problem when Keith Jones and Jim Jackson get caught with their Mic’s on, going on about who doesn’t seem to ever bring it or who needs to get traded?

Is it okay for them but not okay for the rest of us? What’s interesting is, those of you claiming to be the most positive, do the most bulling on this board. Fans should expect more. Some of do. The rest pretend like everything is awesome while the Canes and Jackets leave us in the dust, with lesser talent. If this isn’t an issue for you, well god bless. Thursday was unacceptable.

He knew before he was on the ice that he was the 7th D. Was talked to beforehand. Even if he wasn't, taking his reps with Nolan Patrick as his stand-in "D partner" would have clued him in.

Not entirely sure what prompted the stick toss. Most likely just lots of pent-up frustration. He kinda flubbed on a shot but that happens all the time in practice and doesn't normally trigger that strong of a response. Helicoptering a stick from the ice over the glass like a baseball bat swing where you lose the grip on the bat and it flies over the dugout is a trifle stronger reaction than your basic stick slam or torrent of f-bombs.

The first concern was that maybe he'd tweaked his knee again. AV, who was not on the ice when the stick was thrown (and unaware of it), said that there was no reinjury as far as he knew. And Ghost took the trip with the team to DC.

So, it was 99% just a snap out of frustration. Stormed off to cool down (he wasn't in the locker room, nor his skates at his stall), and then felt better.
- bmeltzer

Frustration. Lack of confidence. He’s a head case type of player. That and defensive reasons is why he is the most expendable. However his trade value is plummeting. Think. Two years ago people scoffed at the idea of ghost for kapanen. Now I’m not sure if Toronto would be interested in that without a sweetener.

Here we go, not even noon yet.

So let me get this right and stay with me because clearly your feelings were hurt and you must have lost sleep.

Is it a problem with Chris Therrien says between periods that this team needs to get it gear when they’re falling flat in a playoff race? I mean, he can’t harp on anything because he only had 15 minutes between periods to say what he needs to say.

Is it a problem when Keith Jones and Jim Jackson get caught with their Mic’s on, going on about who doesn’t seem to ever bring it or who needs to get traded?

Is it okay for them but not okay for the rest of us? What’s interesting is, those of you claiming to be the most positive, do the most bulling on this board. Fans should expect more. Some of do. The rest pretend like everything is awesome while the Canes and Jackets leave us in the dust, with lesser talent. If this isn’t an issue for you, well god bless. Thursday was unacceptable.
- SuperSchennBros

I literally said this wasnt directed at you. Did you finish reading?

Also, it's not about fans being upset after a bad loss. It's about fans coming in here and posting how the team is bad after wins, after win streaks, when they arent even playing and other teams are. What good does it to post about another team winning and how the flyers suck when the flyers didnt even play that day? That's not being productive in the least

I literally said this wasnt directed at you. Did you finish reading?
- bulet13

No I didn’t because all I needed to read was the first paragraph.

No I didn’t because all I needed to read was the first paragraph.
- SuperSchennBros

Well next time maybe try reading the whole post before you critique it lol

Holtby is starting.
- bmeltzer

Too bad..... Guess Ill have to play Raanta @BOS

On the last board it was mentioned that if you dont critique the team you are offering nothing (not my words but a posters)

Technically none of us are offering anything since nothing we say will ever be read by the players or the coaches. Critiquing them on this board will not make them play better, and saying they are okay after a bad loss will not bring them any relief.

Some here just choose to try to focus on the good things (such as the fact that the team is on a pace for improving their standings points by 17 over last year) rather than the negatives. This is the first year in a while that the flyers have been fun to watch (including recent playoff years). I wont apologize for being optimistic on this board or rooting for my team to succeed even if they have a poor game.

SSB, even so I used your words at the beginning of the post, this is less directed to you but to others who when complaining don't even offer up what they think could be fixed (even so we know our offerings dont matter at all)
- bulet13

This misses the point in my opinion. It wasn't a question between being optimistic or pessimistic. It was simply about analysis of one game. Many blew it off as just one game which to a certain extent it certainly is. Others such as myself thought it wasn't just that they lost a game to an inferior opponent, which happens, it was about how they lost. The level of ineptitude and lackadaisical play was alarming.

This misses the point in my opinion. It wasn't a question between being optimistic or pessimistic. It was simply about analysis of one game. Many blew it off as just one game which to a certain extent it certainly is. Others such as myself thought it wasn't just that they lost a game to an inferior opponent, which happens, it was about how they lost. The level of ineptitude and lackadaisical play was alarming.
- MJL

Again, that post is less directed to you and SSb than to people like courd or the clown who post the same negative shtick no matter what happens

Totally valid to have concerns after a bad loss. But to beat down people who have different thresholds for worry (such as a few losses in a row) because they arent so concerned about one loss is also not cool. The negative posters complain we attack them for being negative, without seeing that they do the exact same thing they complain about too.

I literally said this wasnt directed at you. Did you finish reading?

Also, it's not about fans being upset after a bad loss. It's about fans coming in here and posting how the team is bad after wins, after win streaks, when they arent even playing and other teams are. What good does it to post about another team winning and how the flyers suck when the flyers didnt even play that day? That's not being productive in the least
- bulet13

When you only mention one poster, then it's directed at him whether you say it is or not. Your description of posters here is not applicable to SSB.

Again, that post is less directed to you and SSb than to people like courd or the clown who post the same negative shtick no matter what happens

Totally valid to have concerns after a bad loss. But to beat down people who have different thresholds for worry (such as a few losses in a row) because they arent so concerned about one loss is also not cool. The negative posters complain we attack them for being negative, without seeing that they do the exact same thing they complain about too.
- bulet13

It's a discussion board. That's what is supposed to happen. LOL

It seems as though you're unfairly picking a side and saying some don't have the right to offer and debate their opinion because they're not on the side you want them to be on. There are really only a handful of posters who really just try to troll. SSB is not one of them.

Well next time maybe try reading the whole post before you critique it lol
- bulet13

I’ll put it to you like this. You’re sick of me criticizing this team, whether it be warranted or not. That doesn’t make me less tired of the Chris Stewart jokes or being bashed because I want more from our best players. Even I can admit Hayes has been a bright spot of this team the past two months. I can bend to an extent but the rest of you, oh boy. Why should I have to read another lengthy post about how poopty a fan I am?

When you only mention one poster, then it's directed at him whether you say it is or not. Your description of posters here is not applicable to SSB.
- MJL

I used his words to make a different argument (only the first two paragraphs)

Then when I went into my second point, I made sure to mention it's not directed towards him because I didn't want him to think the second point involved him, because it didnt.

I literally called a truce with him like 2 weeks ago. I'm not going to go attack him after that and I didnt.

Caps are playing the Islanders on Monday. This is a trap game for them.

Flyers 5-0.

Predictions for other games:

Avs 5
CBJ 1

Habs 4
Leafs 2

Pens 6
Panthers 3

Lightning 5
Islanders 4

LVK 3
Car 2